Chapters 10-12 Summary

"Tiny Gods" describes the lesser role specialized gods offer to play, leaving them incomplete in the beginning of Chapter Ten. God is symbolized by a passing bird dipping His wing in "This Union," "When You Can Endure" describes the time the heart is most able to learn, and Hafiz describes himself as simply "This Talking Rag" in the next, and to creation as his charge in "Who Will Feed My Cat?" Guilty consciences steal joy in "Burglars Hear Watchdogs" and "A Still Cup" uses the imagery of the kitchen to describe learning. Meditation has made Hafiz "The Lamp That Needs No Oil" and the chapter closes with "Too Wonderful," which describes Hafiz's union with God.

The whole of creation is as fragile as a sprout under the foot of an elephant in "Elephant Wandering" at the beginning of the eleventh chapter. In "An Old Musician...